§ Mr. CollinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the keeping of medical records concerning myelograms int he health service.[14609]
§ Ms JowellThe preservation, retention and destruction of medical records is addressed in Health Circular HC(89)20, copies of which are available in the Library. This guidance satisfies the requirements of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967. While HC(89)20 recommends minimum retention periods, implementation of the guidance is for local interpretation. It is a matter for local management and professionals to determine which elements of the record may be retained, and which may be discarded before the end of the recommended retention period.
The radiologist's report on an x-ray procedure, including those for myelograms, is kept with the patient's medical record. Following a meeting with the Department of Health, the Royal College of Radiologists issued guidance in May 1991 advising that there was greater value in retention of the radiologist's report rather than the film. This was because the x-ray report was considered to be the permanent constituent of the record and the x-ray film was considered to be of transitory nature. Therefore the report should be kept for a period consistent with guidance. In most cases this is for a minimum of eight years after the latest treatment. Where a new episode of treatment begins during that eight-year period the retention period will be extended for a further eight years from that date. Therefore, where treatment continues indefinitely the record will be retained indefinitely.